Courts / Dublin / Report

Mum who carried out bogus collection for Shave or Dye campaign given Probation Act

Summary

Frances O'Brien, a 54-year-old mother of five from Balbriggan, was granted the benefit of the Probation Act at Balbriggan District Court after pleading guilty to using a false instrument. The charge alleged that she used a false charity card to collect for the Irish Cancer Society's fundraising campaign for Today FM's Shave or Dye initiative at Gainsborough Avenue in Malahide on November 2nd, 2013. A bench warrant was executed against O'Brien following her failure to appear at Swords District Court. During the hearing, it was stated that O'Brien and her granddaughter were claiming to collect on behalf of her daughter, who had a broken leg. Gardai seized €95.42 from O'Brien upon her arrest. Defence solicitor Donagh McGowan described the act as a "terribly stupid thing to do" and noted that O'Brien has no previous convictions. Judge Patrick Clyne ordered that the seized funds be made payable to the Irish Cancer Society. Ray D'Arcy, also listed as a defendant in connection with the same alleged false instrument charge, had no plea, finding, or sentence recorded in the validated facts provided for this specific court outcome.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mum who carried out bogus collection for Shave or Dye campaign given Probation Act. Charges or matters: using a false instrument, namely a false charity card to collect for the national radio station's fundraising campaign for the Irish Cancer Society at Gainsborough Avenue in Malahide on November 2nd, 2013. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• November 2nd, 2013 Incident
• 2014-05-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report